| Office of the Speaker |
BUSINESS COMMITTEETUESDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2006 MINUTES The meeting began at 1.05 pm Present: The Speaker (Chair) Present (secretariat): Mr A Moir The Clerk 1. Introduction 1.1 The Speaker stated her view that some recent Points of Order, particularly those relating to comments made by other Members, had resulted in unseemly exchanges in the Chamber. She asked members to urge their colleagues to reflect on matters before seeking a ruling, preferably after reading Hansard, and to raise issues in the first instance through their representatives on the Business Committee rather than on the floor of the Chamber. 1.2 The Speaker reminded members that vexatious Points of Order and challenges to the Speaker’s rulings were not in order, and that she would, if necessary, consider further ways by which such activity could be discouraged. The Speaker asked members to draw this to their colleagues’ attention. 1.3 The Speaker advised that, as she had indicated during the sitting on 20 September, draft guidance in relation to maiden speeches had been prepared. Members considered and agreed this guidance, and the Speaker asked members to make their colleagues aware of its contents. 2. Minutes of the meetings held on 19 and 20 September 2006 2.1 The minutes of the meetings held on 19 and 20 September were agreed and were signed by the Speaker. 3. Matters Arising 3.1 Referring to paragraph 3.5 of the minutes of the 19 September meeting (letter to the Preparation for Government Committee on the budget announcement), the Speaker advised members that a response had now been received from the Preparation for Government Committee. Members considered a copy of the response and noted it without comment. 4.1 Members were informed that the Preparation for Government Committee had agreed a further report on the Institutional issues, but that there was no agreement that the report should be printed. 4.2 The Speaker informed members that the Secretary of State had written to her advising of his intention to direct that the Assembly meet during the following week to discuss the report. A copy of the letter was provided to members, with the Speaker highlighting the Secretary of State’s request for advice from the Business Committee about the timing for such a debate. The Speaker conveyed her understanding that the report would not be available for distribution before Friday afternoon (29 September). 4.3 The parties, other than Sinn Féin, agreed that the Committee should recommend a sitting on Tuesday 3 October, for one day. Sinn Féin reiterated its position that no debate should take place. 4.4 The four parties agreed that the first round of Members called to speak in the debate should be allowed 15 minutes, with all subsequent speakers being limited to 10 minutes. Those parties further agreed that the distribution arrangements for the report should be the same as those for the sitting on 26 September. It was also agreed that no other business should be recommended to the Secretary of State for debate during the week commencing 2 October. 4.5 The Speaker asked members to consult their colleagues, in time for the next meeting, about whether or not the Business Committee should recommend items of business for debate during the week commencing 9 October, given that business was not expected to emerge from the Preparation for Government Committee within that timeframe, and that negotiations were scheduled to take place in Scotland during the second part of that week. 4.6 The DUP’s immediate response was that the Secretary of State should be given notice that members of the Committee would seek his referral of business from the no day named list of motions from the following week onwards. The UUP agreed with this suggestion, adding that the motion on the Review of Public Administration should be recommended for debate on Monday 9 October. Sinn Féin’s view was that parties should prepare for the negotiations rather than engaging in such debates. The Speaker indicated that the Committee would discuss the matter further at its next meeting. 5. Any Other Business 5.1 No other business was raised. 6. Date, Time and Venue of Next Meeting 6.1 The Committee agreed to meet on Tuesday 3 October 2006 at 12.30 in Room 106, Parliament Buildings. The Speaker brought the meeting to a close at 1.20 pm.
The Speaker |